Archery bow with removable inserts to vary draw force

ABSTRACT

An archery bow having a handle, a pair of limbs and a pair of stub members selected from a plurality of stub members having different lengths. All of the stub members are substantially shorter than the limbs. The inner ends of the limbs and the inner ends of the stub members are respectively removably secured to the handle ends with the inner ends of the stub members being respectively sandwiched between the handle ends and the belly sides of the limbs adjacent their inner ends. The limbs and stub members respectively extending outwardly from the handle ends in side-by-side relationship. The outer ends of the stub members respectively engage the belly sides of the limbs intermediate the ends of the latter when the bow is strung and cooperate therewith to provide a draw weight determined by the length of the selected stub member.

United States Patent [1 1 l 11 3,757,762 Cousin 1 Sept. 11, 1973 l l ARCHERY BOW WITH REMOVABLE INSERTS TO VARY DRAW FORCE Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerWilliam R. Browne [75] Inventor. Barry D. Cousln, Walkerton, Ind. Almmey Hood Gust, Irish & Lundy [73] Assignee: Plas/Steel Products, Inc., Walkerton,

57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Apr. 20, 1970 An archery bow having a handle, a pair of limbs and a 21 A L N A 3 ,134 pair of stub members selected from a plurality of stub l 1 PP O 0 members having different lengths. All of the stub members are substantially shorter than the limbs. The inner [5 US CL 4/30 R ends of the limbs and the inner ends of the stub mem- [51] Int. Cl. F4lb 5/00 bers are respectively removably secured to the handle [53] Field of Search ends with the inner ends of the stub members being re- 30 R spectively sandwiched between the handle ends and the belly sides of the limbs adjacent their inner ends. The [56] References Cited limbs and stub members respectively extending out- UNITED STATES PATENTS wardly from the handle ends in side-by-side relation- 261,610 7/1882 Howe 124 23 shiP- The outer endgs 0f the 5 m respfictlvely 237,232 2,1881 Badger 24/23 engage the belly S1dS of the limbs intermediate the 3,486,495 12/1969 All 24 24 ends of the latter when the bow is strung and cooperate 3,015,327 H1962 Lightcap 124/23 therewith to provide a draw weight determined by the FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2/l960 Switzerland 124/23 length of the selected stub member.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ARCHERY BOW WITH REMOVABLE INSERTS TO VARY DRAW FORCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to archery bows and methods of assembling the same, and more particularly to an archery bow having means for selectively adjusting the draw weight thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art One conventional type of archery bow comprises a handle member having limbs secured to the outer end thereof. The handle is commonly formed of metal and the limbs are formed of hardened plastic reinforced with glass fibers. In such conventional archery hows, the draw weight of a particular bow is fixed at the time of its initial fabrication. A method of initially fixing the drawweight of an archery bow formed of glass fiberreinforced plastic is disclosed in application Ser. No. 743,752 of Samuel M. Shobert.

There are instances in which it would be desirable for the user of an archery bow to be able to alter its draw weight. For example, the user of a bow may wish to have one draw weight for-target practice and another for hunting. Further, several different individuals may wish to use the same bow and thus it may be desirable to alter the draw weight of the box to suit particular users.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The invention, in its broader aspects, provides an archery. bow having a handle with opposite ends, a pair of elongated limbsrespectively having inner and nock ends and belly and back sides, and a pair of stub members respectively having inner and outer ends and being substantially shorter than the limbs. Means are provided for, respectively, removably securing the inner ends of the limbs and the inner ends of the stub members to the handle ends with the limbs and stub members, respectively, extending outwardly therefrom in side-by-side relation. The inner ends of the stub members respectively abut the back sides of the limbs adjacent to the inner ends thereof, and the outer ends of the stub members respectively engage the back sides of the limbs intermediate the ends thereof when the bow is strung. The particular pair of stub members employed at any given time is selected from a plurality of stub members of different lengths, progressively longer stub members providing a progressively higher draw weight. Thus, if the user of the bow desires a relatively light draw weight, he will assemble the bow with the shortest pair of stubs, and if he wishes the bow to have a heavier draw weight, he will reassemble the bow with a longer pair of stubmembers.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an archery bow wherein the draw weight may be selectively adjusted by the user.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itselfwill be best understood by reference to the. following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of an unstrung archery bow incorporating the invention;

FIG. .2 is a side view showing the bow of FIG. I when strung;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a plurality ofstub members of different lengths which may selectively be incorporated in the bow of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing the assembly of the bow of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the figures of the drawing, the improved archery bow of the invention, generally indicated at 10, comprises a conventional molded metal handle member 12 having opposite ends 14. Ends 14 of handle 12 are notched, as at I6, to receive the inner ends 18 and 20 of stub members 22 and limbs 24, respectively.

Limbs 24 respectively have inner ends 20 and nock ends 26, and back and belly sides 28 and 30, respectively. Stub members 22, respectively, have inner and outer ends 18 and 32, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, bow I0 is of the recurve type. Inner ends 18 and 20 of stub members 22 and limbs 30 are, respectively, received in notches 16 in ends 14 of handle I2 and are removably secured thereto by means of plate member 34 and suitable threaded fasteners 36, as best seen in FIG. 4. It will thus be seen that stub members 22 are sandwiched between ends 14 of handle 12 and the belly sides 30 of limbs 24, stub members 22 and limbs 24 extending outwardly from handle ends 14 in side-by-side abutting relationship when the bow is unstrung, as shown in FIG. 1.

When bow string 38 is attached to nock ends 26 of limbs 24, thereby bending the same, as shown in FIG. 2, portion 40 of each limb 24 is curved unrestrainedly outwardly away from the respective stub member 22 so that each end 32 of the stub members engages the belly side 30 of the respective limb 24 intermediate its ends, as best seen in FIG. 2. Ends 32 of stub members 22 are preferably beveled outwardly away from belly side 30 of limbs 24, as shown.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 3, a plurality of stub members 22 is provided, shown as being'four in number, of progressively greater length, all of the stub members however being substantially shorter than limbs 24. It will be readily apparent that when the shortest stub member 22-1 is assembled with the limbs 24 and handle 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lighter draw weight will be provided than when the longest stub member 224 is so assembled. Thus, the user of the bow selects the particular length of stub members 22 which will provide the desired drawweight for the bow l0 and will assemble that particular pair of stub members 22with limbs 24 and handle 12, as abovedescribed. Thereafter, if the user desires to change the draw weight, he need only remove screws 36 and plates 34 to disassemble the bow, remove the particular pair of stub members 22 previously employed, and reassemble the bow using a pair of stub members 22 having a different length.

The limbs 24 of bow 10 are preferably of glass fiberreinforced hardened plastic, and may be formed in accordance with the methods described in the aforesaid application Ser. No. 743,752. .Stub members 22 are likewise preferably of glass fiber-reinforced hardened plastic. Limbs 24 are preferably rectangular in crosssection, and stub members 22 likewise are preferably rectangular in cross-section, and preferably have the same cross-sectional dimensions throughout their length as the cross-sectional dimensions of limbs 24 adjacent their inner ends 20. The stubs 22 preferably are identical except for length.

In a particular bow constructed in accordance with the invention having an overall length of 60 inches, limbs 24 being respectively 26 inches in length, 1 /8 inches in width and 3/l6 inch in thickness, stub members 22-1, 22-2, 22-3 and 22-4 respectively 5 inches, 6% inches, 8 inches and 10% inches in length, but of the same width and thickness as the limbs, were employed and resulted in draw weights shown in the following tabulation:

Inch Stub Stub Stub Stub Stub Draw Member Member Member Member Member lb. lb. lb. lb. lb.

l6 l4 l7 18 2O 22 14 12 14 l3 l6 l8 l2 8 9 10 l l 12 1. An archery bow comprising a handle having oppo-v site ends, a pair of elongated limbs, respectively, extending outwardly from said ends, and having inner and neck ends and belly and back sides, means disposed adjacent the proximal portions of said limbs between said inner ends and a selected point intermediate the ends thereof for causing unrestrained flexing of said proximal portions relative thereto, said means including a pair of members, respectively, having inner and outer ends and being substantially shorter than said limbs, and means for removably securing said inner ends of said limbs and said inner ends of said stub members to said handle ends with said limbs and stub members, respectively, extending outwardly therefrom in side-byside relationship, said outer ends of said members, respectively, engaging said belly sides of said limbs at said intermediate point and said proximal portions being curved outwardly away from said members when said bow is strung.

2. The bow of claim 1 wherein said belly sides of said limbs respectively abut said members substantially throughout their lengths prior to stringing said bow.

3. The bow of claim 1 wherein said members respectively have predetermined lengths thereby to provide a predetermined draw weight for said bow.

4. The bow of claim 1 wherein said inner ends of said members are respectively sandwiched between said handle ends and said belly sides of said limbs adjacent to the inner ends of said handle ends and the inner ends of said members.

5. The bow of claim 4 wherein said limbs are rectangular in cross-section, said members respectively having generally the same cross-sectional dimensions as said limbs adjacent to said inner ends of said limbs.

6. The bow of claim 5 wherein said limbs and members are formed of hardened plastic reinforced with glass fibers.

7. The bow of claim 5 wherein said securing means comprises a pair of plate members respectively abutting the back sides of said limbs adjacent to the limbs inner ends, and threaded fasteners for removably securing the respective plate member, limb and each member of said pair of members to the respective handle end.

8. The bow of claim 5 wherein said members of said pair of members have substantially the same crosssectional dimension throughout their lengths, the outer ends of said members being respectively tapered out- -wardly away from said belly sides of said limbs. 

1. An archery bow comprising a handle having opposite ends, a pair of elongated limbs, respectively, extending outwardly from said ends, and having inner and nock ends and belly and back sides, means disposed adjacent the proximal portions of said limbs between said inner ends and a selected point intermediate the ends thereof for causing unrestrained flexing of said proximal portions relative thereto, said means including a pair of members, respectively, having inner and outer ends and being substantially shorter than said limbs, and means for removably securing said inner ends of said limbs and said inner ends of said stub members to said handle ends with said limbs and stub members, respectively, extending outwardly therefrom in side-byside relationship, said outer ends of said members, respectively, engaging said belly sides of said limbs at said intermediate point and said proximal portions being curved outwardly away from said members when said bow is strung.
 2. The bow of claim 1 wherein said belly sides of said limbs respectively abut said members substantially throughout their lengths prior to stringing said bow.
 3. The bow of claim 1 wherein said members respectively have predetermined lengths thereby to provide a predetermined draw weight for said bow.
 4. The bow of claim 1 wherein said inner ends of said members are respectively sandwiched between said handle ends and said belly sides of said limbs adjacent to the inner ends of said handle ends and the inner ends of said members.
 5. The bow of claim 4 wherein said limbs are rectangular in cross-section, said members respectively having generally the same cross-sectional dimensions as said limbs adjacent to said inner ends of said limbs.
 6. The bow of claim 5 wherein said limbs and members are formed of hardened plastic reinforced with glass fibers.
 7. The bow of claim 5 wherein said securing means comprises a pair of plate members respectively abutting the back sides of said limbs adjacent to the limb''s inner ends, and threaded fasteners for removably securing the respective plate member, limb and each member of said pair of members to the respective handle enD.
 8. The bow of claim 5 wherein said members of said pair of members have substantially the same cross-sectional dimension throughout their lengths, the outer ends of said members being respectively tapered outwardly away from said belly sides of said limbs. 